Monday movie quote challenge #153
“Death has come to your little town, Sheriff. Now you can either ignore it, or you can help me to stop it.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Zombies may represent our darkest fears
A sign promoting zombie preparadness is seen in a hardware store in Omaha, Neb., Monday, Oct. 10, 2011.
What makes the zombie genre so popular? I looked at some reasons for this Halloween story for The Oklahoman.
“Every dead body that is not exterminated becomes one of them. It gets up and kills. The people it kills get up and kill.”
— Dr. Foster (“Dawn of the Dead,” 1978)
Arguably the most popular horror subgenre of the past decade has been the zombie tale, with motion picture hits including “Zombieland,” “Shaun of the Dead,” and the “Resident Evil” series. People have even taken to dressing like zombies in “Zombie Walks” in various parts of the world, including in Oklahoma City. (In 2010, fake blood left by a zombie walk led to a brief police investigation.)
But what has led to the ongoing appeal of these brain-eating, slow-witted monsters? Maybe it’s a way of facing our fears.
Halloween comics review: X-Men and Power Pack #1 (2005)
X-Men and Power Pack #1 (2005)
The 2005 miniseries “X-Men and Power Pack,” written by Marc Sumerak, started off with a Halloween-themed issue, as the Power kids are heading to a Halloween party, with young Jack dressed as one of his favorite heroes, Wolverine.
Halloween comics review: Marvel Adventures Spider-Man vol. 1 #20
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man vol. 1 #20
Two creators I consider personal favorites — writer Peter David and artist Mike Norton — teamed up for the 2006 Halloween tale “Monster Mash” in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #20.
Batman: The Animated Series inspired “The Batman Adventures”
In 1992, “The Batman Adventures,” inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, began its run at DC Comics. Originally planned as a six-issue miniseries, the comic went on to run for 36 issues plus three annuals.
I recently re-read issues 1-12 of the series, which provide accessible, enjoyable done-in-one Batman tales (with some continuing plots or subplots).
Superman surgery, Avengers trailer parody, Halloween recommendations on Planet 46 Halloween Special
Kyle drops in Logan-style, bub, in this year’s Planet 46 Halloween Special. Also on the show: Superman fan Herbert Chavez undergoes 10 years of surgery to become resemble his hero; Bryan Harley makes an awesome Avengers trailer “Sweded” parody; Halloween comics are recommended; and Sterling Gates is making a stop in Oklahoma. Plus Wolverine, Superman and more make an appearance in the review file.
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Comic-book recommendations for Halloween reading
With Halloween just around the corner, publishers have released new or updated editions of some horror and Halloween-themed comics. Each of these would make fine reading with a flashlight once the sun goes down on All Hallows’ Eve.
Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter is strong, sophisticated in “Captain America”
Hayley Atwell in "Captain America."
Hayley Atwell plays British agent Peggy Carter, part of the team who helps to train scrawny Steve Rogers in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Once Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) receives the super-soldier serum to become America’s athletic, star-spangled hero of World War II, Atwell’s Carter is part of the unit that helps Captain America face off against the villainous Hydra and the Red Skull. “Captain America” is available on DVD and Blu-ray this week.
Report: George R.R. Martin’s “Wild Cards” optioned for film
The superhero anthology series “Wild Cards,” edited by author George R.R. Martin, may soon have a film adaptation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Syfy Films, aa joint venture of Syfy and Universal Pictures, has acquired the screen rights to “Wild Cards.” Several authors created the world of the “Wild Cards,” in which an alien virus killed most it came in contact with, but mutated a few into sometimes powerful but always deformed or damaged “jokers.” An even smaller percentage became superpowered “Aces.”
Melinda Snodgrass, a co-creator and co-writer on the series, will write the screenplay, and will executive produce with Martin.
The series has a wide cast of characters and a decades-spanning story, and was among the first (along with comics like “Watchmen”) to deal with what the real-world implications of superpowers might be.
- Matt Price
Happy birthday, Bernie Wrightson!
According to the Comics Reporter, it’s the 63rd birthday of popular horror artist Bernie Wrightson.
He’s known as the co-creator of “Swamp Thing” and for his work on comic book titles from “House of Mystery” to “Batman: The Cult.”
I read “Batman/Aliens” from 1997 last night, a two-part series written by Ron Marz with art by Bernie Wrightson, and Wrightson does as well as anyone in making the alien creatures of the “Aliens” universe truly disturbing.
His work on “Creepy” and as an illustrator of “Frankenstein” have been reprinted in the past year, and are worth seeking out. Wrightson has recently worked with writer Steve Niles on projects including “The Ghoul” and “Doc Macabre.”
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,608 Still to go: 403.
